NAVRATRI: Facts and importance about the nine-days festival

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NAVRATRI : Facts and Importance about the nine-days festival

The word "Durga" in Sanskrit meaning is "Durgatinashini," which literally translates into "the one who eliminates sufferings." Thus, Hindus believe that goddess Durga protects Her devotees from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction

Navratri is said to be the nine forms of Goddess Durga that represents different qualities of human beings – Shailputri, Brahmcharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyaini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhatri. So everything controlled and maintained by these nine forms (roopas) is related to the human mind and psychology. It is believed that during the nine days of Navratri, people worship one form of Durga each day and seek blessing for physical, psychological and mental strength.

Why Twice a Year?

Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine power because:

(1) We believe that it is the Divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this Divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.

(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the Divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.

 

SIGNIFICANCE:-

                             The two significant points of climatic and solar influence is during the beginning of spring and autumn. The earth experiences maximum gravitational pull since it is closer to Sun. It is believed that divine energy mediates with extra power and helps the earth to pass this stage smoothly. This divine energy according to Hindu mythology is associated with Goddess Durga. The Navratri festival is a symbol of thanks to Goddess Durga for helping and protecting Mother Earth.

 Why Nine Nights & Days?

Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the Supreme Goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called  Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom,  Saraswati.  In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the Divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

Moreover, during the Navratri the Mother is worshiped in Her nine appellations:

1.) Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas)

2.) Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes the state of celibacy doing penance)

3.) Chandraghaṇṭā ( One who bears the moon in her necklace )

4.) Kūṣmāṇḍa (the creator of the universe)

5.) Skanda-Mātā (The mother of Skanda, Kārttikeya, born out of her powers)

6.) Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana, who incarnated to help the Devas)

7.) Kālarātrī (black as night, destroyer of Kālī)

8.) Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance)

9.) Siddhidātrī (Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers)

 

The festival of Navratri is upon us, and while everyone is busy traveling home to attend garbas, here are some quick facts to help understand the festival of Navratri, and why it is celebrated by Hindus all over the world:

 Fact: 8 things you may know about Navratri

Ø   1). Navratri is celebrated three times a year and has five different names:-

   -> Ashwina Navratri,

   -> Chaitra Navratri

   -> Sharad Navratri, which is also known as Maha Navratri .

Ø   2). The word Navratri stands for nine nights in Sanskrit (nav meaning nine and ratri meaning nights).

Ø   3). Another Hindu legend states that Navratri is celebrated to mark the nine-       day long fight between Lord Ram and his enemy Ravana.

Ø 4). Navtri honors Shakti Ma, who takes various forms in different Hindu goddesses (Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi). The nine-day period is separated into threes; Goddess Durga is worshipped to destroy our impurities and vices, then Goddess Lakshmi to bestow spiritual wealth, and lastly, Goddess Saraswati to bring knowledge and wisdom.

Ø 5). forms of Mother Shakti who is the ultimate female form of power are worhsipped across various regions in India. (Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Lalita, Bhavani, and Mookambika.)

Ø 6). During the nine days of Sharad Navratri, Hindus celebrate Goddess Durga’s slaying of the demon Mahishasura.

Ø 7). Goddess Durga had agreed to marry Mahishasura if he won her over in a battle. This battle commenced for nine days and on the 10^th night Goddess Durga beheaded him. This night is known as Dusshera or Vijayadashmi and is celebrated by Hindus as the official end to Navratri.

Ø 8). Many Hindus fast during the nine days, some eat just fruits and milk for all nine days while others eat only one meal a day. All Hindus remain strictly vegetarian for the entirety of the festival.

Navratri in India symbolizes innumerable forms of devotion while upholding the fundamental theme of good over evil. The Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu witnesses large number of devotees during Navratri. The Navratri Mela in Himachal Pradesh marks the beginning of Navratri.  In West Bengal, people celebrate ‘Durga Puja and they show Goddess Durga killing the demon ‘Mahishasura’.  The occasion is marked with great devotion.

Gujarat is the place to be during Navratri celebration. The state soaked in traditional music & dance defines both religious and cultural themes including the night-long devotional dance called Garba using ‘dandiya’ or thin wooden stick. This dance is inspired from the story of Lord Krishna’s singing and dancing with gopikas (cow-heard girls). In order to let the divine energy reach them, devotees avoid taking fish, meat, egg, onion, alcohol, lentils and garlic. It is believed that these food items obstruct the divine energy in any form. Moreover, the negative karmic energies accumulate from the environment and other living being.

         Happy Navratri to you and your family! May you all be blessed by Ma Durga!